RAIN-lashed Britain will stay on severe flood alert until at least next week as fresh downpours bring more chaos to the country today .

Eight inches of rain – the equivalent of a month-and-a-half rainfall – is expected before Saturday.

More than 400 flood warnings across the country remain in place . Last night thousands of families were forced to abandon their homes to take refuge elsewhere .

The areas likely to bear the brunt of violent storms sweeping in off the Atlantic are northern Scotland, Wales and a swathe of the south coast from Cornwall to Kent.

Gale-force winds could severely damage buildings and forecasters warn wind and rain could last into the middle of January. Last night Jonathan Powell, of Vantage Weather Services, said: “ We are expecting up to eight inches of rain and with ground so saturated this will trigger more serious flooding.

“Heavy and persistent downpours will hit every single day without any sign of a break at least until the weekend, with strong gusts of 80mph just making things worse. ”

The Environment Agency has warned those living in Cornwall, Devon and Somerset where the ground is saturated to be extra vigilant. Those living near the rivers Severn, Ouse, Trent, Avon and Thames are particularly at risk.

The Met Office said almost an inch of rain hit the South-west on Christmas Eve, making it one of the wettest Christmases in 100 years. Forecaster Helen Chivers said: “There is further risk of flooding and travel disruption as the rain will be fairly heavy and persistent. ”

A mother who clung to a tree branch in surging floodwater for an hour was named as Vanessa Glover. Mrs Glover, her husband Paul and son Silas were stranded in their Ford Ranger truck as the River Taw burst its banks at Umberleigh, North Devon, early on Sunday.

Eight inches of rain – the equivalent of a month-and-a-half rainfall – is expected before Saturday

Although Mr Glover and their son scrambled to the back of the truck, Mrs Glover was swept 200 yards downstream. She was found by an RNLI crew who said they were “gobsmacked” she was alive.

The rescue came as floods swept across the South-west with more than 250 people evacuated from homes in Devon and Cornwall.

In Devon, 25 people were led to safety by emergency services in Stoke Canon, Exeter, after the River Exe burst its banks. In Helston, Cornwall, the River Cober surged into streets and homes.

Netweather forecaster Paul Michaelwaite said: “Boxing Day should see a good deal of the showers easing but it’s only a temporary lull with more wet and windy weather arriving from the south west later in the day.”

However, there was one reason to be cheerful in the UK after it rained on Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, during Christmas Day.

The downpour meant the beach – usually awash with sunbathers, surfers and barbecues – was almost deserted as temperatures fell to just 63F (17C).